September 13. F or as famous as it is, the so-called Star-Spangled Banner is shrouded in plenty of misconceptions. The failed bombardment of Fort McHenryforced the British to abandon their land assault on the crucial port city of Baltimore. Because of the flag's size and the dimensions of the glass case it was displayed in, the public never saw the entire flag while it was housed in this location. Stay up-to-date on our FREE educational resources & professional development opportunities, all designed to support your work teaching American history. In general, lowercase north, south, northeast, northern, etc., when they indicate compass direction. The flag and many other treasures were crated up and sent to Luray, Virginia, for safekeeping. The two additional stars and stripes, approved by the United States Congress's Flag Act of 1794, represent Vermont and Kentucky's entrance into the Union. Bodies of the dead were not used to hold up the flag pole a 42 by 30 foot flag has to be on a well-anchored pole, not held up by a few dead bodies stacked around it. How long did the star-spangled banner wave? After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Americans once more felt their homeland might be under real physical threat. Perhaps most important is this: The massive relic on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is NOT the flag that . Privacy Statement Was the flag at Fort McHenry held up bodies? Not knowing for sure when an attack would occur, they spent months preparing for it. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. During the Battle of Baltimore on September 13 and 14, 1814, heavy thunderstorms over Fort McHenry prevented the flying of the flag we know today as the Star Spangled Banner. No, Key was a lawyer in Washington, D.C. The imposing Fort McHenry, at the mouth of the inner harbor, provided the linchpin for the American defenses. He wanted to be sure the British could see the United States colors from their distant warships. Battle of Fort McHenry | American Battlefield Trust On September 12, 1814, 5,000 British soldiers and a fleet of 19 ships attacked Baltimore. In 1912, Georgiana Armistead Appleton'sson Eben Appleton decided to give the Star-Spangled Banner to the Smithsonian as a permanent gift. At 9:00 a.m., Fort McHenrys massive garrison flag measuring an imposing 30'x 42' was raised over the ramparts, as four young fifers and drummers played the national tune Yankee Doodle. Aboard the frigate HMS Hebrus, a young midshipman remembered: And as the last vessel spread her canvas to the wind, the Americans hoisted a most superb and splendid ensign on theirbattery, and fired at the same time a gun of defiance.The great ensign, receiving the sun's early light, could be seen plainly for miles. [34][36][37] The flag was restored by Amelia Fowler in 1914. Support Outdoor Classrooms at Seven Key Battlefields. In 1813,Mary Pickersgill, a Baltimore flagmaker, was commissioned to make two flags for Fort McHenry. As he (Key) went back up on board to arrange for their passage to the shore, the admiral came and he said 'We have a slight problem.' Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. For the next 50 years, with the exception of a brief move during World War II, the Star-Spangled Banner was displayed in what is now the Arts and Industries Building. The Battle of Fort McHenry was fought September 13/14, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Why the Confederate Flag Made a 20th Century Comeback - National Geographic The Star-Spangled Banner has a sibling, and we have no idea where it is. Militarily, Baltimore was a far more important city than Washington because of its thriving port and strategic location. You'll also see Duke in many news documentaries, including on the Reelz channel, CNN and HLN. [14][15] When the British ships were unable to pass the fort and penetrate the harbor, the attack was ended. While the conservators worked, the public looked on. [53] The framed remnant came with a faded, hand-written note attesting it was "A piece of the Flag which floated over Fort McHenry at the time of the bombardment when Key's (sic) composed the Song of the Star Spangled Banner, presented by Sam Beth Cohen. Star-Spangled Banner | Smithsonian Institution It will be here within striking distance in a matter of about two-and-a-half hours.' Seeing the flag flying over Fort McHenry on the morning of September 14, 1814, after the battle ended, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry". was its question.. Remember, there were no colonies, only states, in 1814. [27] It was intended to be exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, but was not displayed because of fears it would be damaged. What happened to Fort McHenry? - Estatisticasgratis.com Their goal was to push through the narrow passage, past Fort McHenry and through to the city itself, in concert with the planned infantry assault from the northwest. The larger of the two flags had stripes two feet wide, and stars 24 inches from point to point. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It was this storm flagnot the garrison flag now known as the Star-Spangled Bannerwhich actually flew during the battle. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" on September 14, he saw the American flagnot the British Union Jackflying over the fort, announcing an American victory. These are some typical questions people have about customs and rules surrounding African American History Curatorial Collective, the flag's most recent conservation check-up, why the national anthem is so hard to sing, a nationwide sing of the national anthem on Flag Day (June 14, 2014), When lightning strikes: The making and meaning of a patriotic symbol, Rene Fleming's Super Bowl gown: A curatorial jackpot, Pointers from the Flag Code, just in time for Flag Day. "I gave the flag to the National Museum with the firm and settled intention of having it remain there forever," he wrote, "and regarded the acceptance of the gift by the Authorities of the Museum as evidence of their willingness to comply with this condition", Eben asked Walcott to ensure that any "citizen who visits the museum with the expectation of seeing the flag be sure of finding it in its accustomed place.". [29][30], Georgiana Appleton died in 1878 and left the flag to her son, Eben Appleton. When Major George Armistead, the fort's commander, expressed the desire for a very large flag to fly over the fort, General John S. Stricker and Commodore Joshua Barney placed an order for two oversized American flags. The situation was complicated by the long lag time in communications. The flag was stitched from a combination of cotton and dyed English wool bunting. He says 'It's predominantly not a military fort.' Historians are not sure how the Armistead family came into possession of the flag, but upon Armistead's death in 1818, his wife Louisa inherited it. In fact, the number of stars on the flag actually grew during the war from 34 to 36. It is our song as an American. But not everyone was a fan. Accordingly, he launched a late evening diversionary barge attack on the western shore, the backdoor of the American land defenses. The poem would be put to the music of a common tune, retitled "The Star-Spangled Banner", and a portion of it would later be adopted as the national anthem of the United States. But just what did that flag, that for and those defenders endure?. From the harbor below Fort McHenry, these events were witnessed without understanding that they were standard practice by those aboard a Baltimore packet vessel, President, now serving as the U.S. flag-of-truce vessel. After coming to the Smithsonian, the Star-Spangled Banner has only left the National Mall once. Whether or not Francis Scott Key actually visited Fort McHenry that day, he would have not seen a stack of "patriots' bodies" holding the flag pole upright. South Carolina's confederate flag hasn't been flying since the Civil War. Are the words national anthem capitalized in a sentence? At the time, the practice of adding stripes (in addition to stars) with the induction of a new state had not yet been discontinued. Using a storm flag in those conditions would have been standard practice. These ships fire exploding mortar shellsat high angles into the fort. As World War II began, plans were made to protect a number of the Smithsonian's most precious objects. Rewriting history is a dangerous thing, although the consequences of digesting this particular mythology may not lead to destruction. The hissing rockets and the fiery shells glittered in the air, threatening destruction as they fell,later recalled a young British sailor, in a description that sounds straight out of a poem, Whilst to add solemnity to this scene of devastation, the rain fell in torrents the thunder broke inmighty peals after each successive flash of lightening, that for a moment illuminated the surrounding darkness.But with no coordinated infantry assaults, Cochrane began to draw down his thrust. He said 'All of the gun power, all of the armament is being called upon to demolish that fort. That same year, Preble had the first known photograph of it taken at the Boston Navy Yard and exhibited it at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where he stored it until 1876. [8] The smaller of the two flags would be the Storm Flag, to be more durable and less prone to fouling in inclement weather. [42], A conservation effort was undertaken in 1982 to protect the flag from damage due to dust and light. Corbis On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in. War of 1812: Big Night in Baltimore Only Mississippi now flies the Confederate battle flag in an official capacity - the state has incorporated a blue cross with 13 stars over a red background since 1894. They appeared over time as the iron particles corroded. It can cause a student to incorrectly answer an American history test question and might make you look foolish when discussing history with better-informed friends. ", 2400 East Fort Avenue This revelation was famously captured in poetry by Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer and amateur poet. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Published: September 9, 2020. This is a longer version of the same story posted in 2008. [11][12], Pickersgill made the flag with assistance from her daughter, two nieces, and an African American indentured servant, Grace Wisher.[13]. Command of the land forces passes to Col.Arthur Brooke. Send Students on School Field Trips to Battlefields Your Gift Tripled! The Star-Spangled Banner, or the Great Garrison Flag, was the garrison flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor during the naval portion of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. He said 'Tonight, I have negotiated successfully your return to the colonies.' This was not updated until April 4, 1818, so Pickersgill sewed on 15 stars. She recommends you brush up on more flag facts by learning about the flag's most recent conservation check-up and finding out why the national anthem is so hard to singbefore joining us in a nationwide sing of the national anthem on Flag Day (June 14, 2014) in honor of its 200th birthday. [44] Years of accumulated dust were carefully vacuumed from the front and back of the flag. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 56,000 acres in 25 states! This delay gives the American defenders in Baltimore time to bolster their defenses. [40][41], In 1964, the flag was moved across the National Mall to the newly opened Museum of History and Technology (now the National Museum of American History). inaccurate stories, videos or images going viral on the internet. Despite a stalwart initial defense, the Americans begin to give way to the British regulars. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Story Behind the Star Spangled Banner - Smithsonian Magazine Bombardment of Fort McHenry Part 1 Chafingat the need to coordinate with an officer so junior to his rank, all Cochrane could do was reiterate his assessment and make his disapproval known, hoping that it would sway Brooke. He said 'Hundreds." It is likely that they kept the flag hidden in their home in Baltimore for the duration of the war, but Margaret Appleton Baker, Georgiana's daughter, told theNew York Heraldin 1895 that the flag had actually been sent to England. [42][43] It was hung in Flag Hall, a three-story central atrium designed for this purpose.